DISEASES OF CATS 135 



humane reasons, to prevent suffering in ani- 

 mals which cannot get well. In large institu- 

 tions, like the Home of the American Society 

 for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, they 

 have tanks containing carbonic acid, which 

 puts the animal to sleep and death painlessly. 

 Drowning is an equally quick and painless 

 death, if done properly j but care must be taken 

 that the animal is quickly and totally immersed 

 in water, and not allowed to reach the surface 

 for a single instant for a gasp of air. By this 

 method, undoubtedly, the animal has one mo- 

 mentary shock, and an attempted gasp, when 

 formation of carbonic acid in its own brain 

 puts it to sleep and renders it unconscious be- 

 fore even death takes place. 



Poisoning by strychnine or arsenic is cruel, 

 as it produces considerable pain before death. 

 Strong prussic acid generally produces imme- 

 diate death,- but it is difficult to administer, 

 and in some cases it fails absolutely. 



In the hands of an expert, while it has the 

 appearance of brutality, a ball from a pistol, 

 or a properly administered blow with a ham- 

 mer on the skull, produces instantaneous and 



